Ventilated plastered soffit construction



March 23, 1965 J. J. GRAY 3,174,421

VENTILATED PLASTERED SOFF IT CONSTRUCTION Filed ot. 8. 1962 *ulllrlfrn l wxfa 24226 42 I NVENTOR.

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United States Patent O 3,174,421` VENTILA'IED PLASTERED SOFFIT CONSTRUCTION .lohn J. Gray, 743 W. 145th St., Gardena, Calif. Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 228,868 2 Claims. (Cl. 98-37) In general, the present invention relates to an easily cleaned, ventilated plastered construction adapted to resist cracking and eliminate gaps due to plaster shrinkage. In particular, the present invention relates to a simple, economical, easily removable Ventil-ating screed support adapted to be used with plastered surfaces to compensate for any lateral Vmovement of the adjoining plaster, and is especially adapted toV be used in the construction of soilits.

The present invention is related to the inventions set forth in my copending application Serial No. 847,404, filed October 19, 1959, entitled Ventilator Expansion Screed Support And Hood Construction, now Patent No. 3,057,287.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, there is provided a longitudinally extending strip of thin sheet material such as metal having at least some resiliency for reasons later appearing. The central portion of the strip is perforated by a series of apertures, desirably aligned in rows and columns, and the strip includes also a pair of laterally spaced flank sections, each consisting of a portion extending generally downwardly from the perforated central portion, and an outwardly extending flange, the two flanges being desirably coplanar and parallel to the central portion. The portions extending downwardly from the sides of the central portion diverge outwardly, forming obtuse angles with the central portion, to facilitate periodic removal and, by slight ilexure of the flank sections, to relieve expansion and other strains in material such as plaster or stucco used adjacent the flank sections, and thereby to prevent cracking of such material.

The strip is fastened to support members such as joists or the like, and in the present illustrative embodiment of the invention the strip is shown as part of an eave construction, being fastened to the lower faces of outwardly and generally horizontally extending joists. Such fastening may be easily accomplished by nails or screws extending through appropriate ones of the apertures formed in the central portion of the strip.

Typically the perforated central portion may be from three to .six or more inches in width and may extend the entire length of an eave, the downwardly extending portions being of substantially smaller downward extent than the central portion width, being only deep enough to accommodate the depth of plaster or stucco coating to be applied on either or both sides of the strip. The flange sections serve as screed supports for application of the plaster or stucco, and serve also to overlie and thus to mask the edges thereof, thereby expediting the plaster applying process. The masking effect furthermore enhances the appearance of the finished construction in that it conceals any gap caused by shrinkage, and the bendability of the flank sections, as before mentioned, localizes and minimizes cracking of plaster or stucco otherwise resulting from building settling and other causes. Removability of the strip facilitates minor repairs and modifications in the sollt, such as installation of auxiliary utility lines after the building is completed.

Another feature of the screed support of the present invention is its simple yet useful and attractive construction. For example, in the perforated central section of the strip, the vent holes themselves may be used for the fastening means, such as screws or nails. Like- `i ce wise, the geometric pattern of the holes combined with the straight borders formed by the outward portions of the edge form an attractive, ornamental appearance for the soft portion of the house.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to disclose a Ventilating screed support particularly adapted to be used in connection with the construction of softs and adapted to compensate for any lateral movement of the adjoining plaster.

Another object of the present invention to provide is a Ventilating screed support means which is easily removable and adapted to facilitate the edging of the plastering oper-ation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a Ventilating screed support which has a simple yet useful and attractive construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a vertical sectional view of an eave sofft and adjacent parts of a building roof, wall and ceiling.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing details of the present invention, with part of a ceiling joist broken away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view of two joists and the strip of the present invention mounted thereunder.

In FIG. 1 a ceiling joist indicated generally at 5 rests upon plate 6 and meets rafter 7 at facia 8, all in accordance with conventional construction.

There is indicated generally at 10 a strip of metal or equivalent material having (see FIGS. 2 and 3) a flat perforated central portion 12 and laterally spaced flanking portions indicated generally at 14 and 16 integrally formed with the central portion. The perforations 20 of the central portion are here shown as disposed in aligned rows and columns, although other configurations and arrangements could be employed if desired. The diameters of the individual perforations or openings 20 may be for example of the order of Ma -to 1A", spaced desirably on Ve to 5% centers, depending upon the amount of strength and ventilation needed for a particular application.

Flank portions 14 and 16 include generally downwardly extending side sections 22 and 24 respectively and outwardly bent flange sections 26 and 28 respectively, the flange sections being coplanar and parallel to central portion 12, and spaced therefrom by the depth of wall material such as plaster or stucco to be used.

Strip 10 is supported by joists indicated generally at 4 and 5, as by lbeing attached to the lower faces of the joists by suitable fastening members 30 such as screws or nails, desirably extending through selected openings 20 in the strip.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a completed construction in accordance with the invention includes plaster or stucco applied on either side of the strip, as indicated at 40 and 42. Conventional lath may be used, such as metal lath 44 conventionally attached to the joists as by fasteners 46.

Because of the obtuse angle between each of the side sections 22, 24 and central portion 12, the side sections diverge as they extend downwardly from the central portion, so that the distance between the innermost edges of flank portionsl 26, 28 is at least as great as, and preferably appreciably greater than, the width of the perforated central portion 12 of the strip. This facilitates removal and replacement of the strip as for periodic cleaning or the like, and desirably the obtuse angle mentioned is between about and 120 when the strip is not stressed. It is to be noted that the flanges 26 and 28 are here shown as planar, but they may be otherwise congured for decorative or functional reasons as desired.

M-inor modifications and changes from the specic illustrative sizes, shapes and relationships shown and described are contemplated and are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An easily cleaned, ventilated plastered sot construction adapted to resi-st cracking and vel-iminate gaps due to plaster shrinkage, including: a Ventilating screed support comprising an elongated, thin strip of strong resilient material adapted to be removably fastened to the underside of supporting structural members, said strip having `a perforated central portion flanked by longitudinal edge portions, each including a side section bent generally downwardly from said central portion and a flange section bent outwardly from the bottom of the side section, the langle between said side section and said central portion being between about 95 and about 120, Aand a layer of plaster extending into the space between the underside of the supporting members and the outwardly bent ilange sections of said screed support.

2. An easily removable Ventilating screed support for plastered sotlt constructions comprising an elongated thin strip of strong bendable material having -a central perforated portion and laterally spaced integrally formed ilank portions each including a side section extending generally downwardly from opposite sides of Athe central portion and forming an angle of between about and about therewith and a flange section extending outwardly from the lower end of the side section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,227,553 Paque Ian. 7, 1941 2,351,261 Hall June 13, 1944 2,780,978 Peirson Feb. l2, 1957 2,995,079 La Fontaine Allg. 8, 1961 

1. IN EASILY CLEANED, VENTILATED PLASTERED SOFFIT CONSTRUCTION ADAPTED TO RESIST CRACKING AND ELIMINATE GAPS DUE TO PLASTER SHRINKAGE, INCLUDING: A VENTILATING SCREED SUPPORT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, THIN STRIP OF STRONG RESILIENT MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY FASTENED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SUPPORTING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, SAID STRIP HAVING A PERFORATED CENTRAL PORTION FLANKED BY LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS, EACH INCLUDING A SIDE SECTION BENT GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION AND A FLANGE SECTION BENT OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SIDE SECTION, THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID SIDE SECTION AND SAID CENTRAL PORTION BEING BETWEEN ABOUT 95* AND ABOUT 120*, AND A LAYER OF PLASTER EXTENDING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND THE OUTWARDLY BENT FLANGE SECTIONS OF SAID SCREED SUPPORT. 